Twenty-four of the 32 teams at the 2022 World Cup are out but for the eight nations remaining, the tournament might just be getting started. Adam Bate on why history shows us that what happens next will define careers, not what we have seen so far in Qatar…
Spain began this World Cup with seven goals against Costa Rica. That had people purring. Now they are out. England have done enough to excite but Kylian Mbappe’s France stand in their way. The quality of Brazil has tempered expectations for both.
But for fans of any team left in this World Cup, hope remains despite the hoopla reserved for some. Portugal came to the party in the final game before the quarter-finals, underlining just why they say the tournament starts now. History shows it to be true. Click here to see the best odds for the quarter-finals.
